Device to prevent botation of bobbins in looms



Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,598

H. N. ARTHUR DEVICE TO PREVENT ROTATION OF BOBBINS IN LOOMS Filed July 19, 1925 INVENTOFG HARE I sow N. /\FTH u F2 ATTOFINE s- Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,652,598 PATENT OFFICE.

HARRISON N. ARTHUR, F METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS; ASSIGNOB TO CBOMPTON &

KNOWLES LOOK W'ORKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE TO PREVENT ROTATION OF ROBBINS IN LOOKS.

Application filed July 19, 1926. Serial No. 123,260.

This invention relates to improvements in devices to prevent rotation of bobbins on their axes as they await transfer in weft replenishing looms and it is the general object of the invention to provide improved means for guiding and holding in inactive position the weights which rest on the bobbins.

Inmulti-color weft replenishing mechanisms there is usually provided a plurality of vertical stacks of bobbins arranged according to color or other distinguishing characteris tie and it has been found that due to the jarring of the loom the bobbins are prone to rotate on their axes with the result that the thread extending from the tip of the bobbin to the thread holder becomes so taut that at the time of transfer it is broken and a subsequent misthreading of the shuttle results. It has been proposed heretofore to 2 employ weights resting freely on the tops of the top bobbins to exert a downward pres sure suflicient to arrest any tendency of the bobbins to rotate, such an arrangement being set forth in Richardson Patent No. 1,517 ,460

and IVentz Patent No. 1,555,173. In the Richardson device the weights can be entirely removed from the guideways of the bobbins and can therefore be left in inoperative position by a careless operator and in the \Ventz device the weights although confined to the guideways are in such a position as to prevent a free insertion of bobbins into the top of the guideway. It is an important object of my invention to provide a weft replenishing mechanism having a weight to rest normally on the bobbins but being guided so that when in raised position it will not only be held against accidental displacement butwill also be clear of the 40 path of the bobbins which are being inserted into the magazine guideways' or compartments.

It .is a further object of my invention to provide inclined retaining guideways which will serve to hold the weights in inoperative position while a fresh supply of bobbins is being inserted in the magazine but which will operate due to the jarring of the loom as the latter is running to move the weight downwardly along the inclined path into operative position should the Weight be neglected and left in raised position after a new supply of bobbins has been put in the maga- Zme.

l/Vith these and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims. 7

In the accompanying drawings wherein I have shown a convenient form of my invention,

. Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a portion of a magazine having my invention applied thereto and looking toward the butt ends of the bobbins,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. l,

Fig. 3 is a. perspective View of one of the weights forming a part of my invention, and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line of Fig.2.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that I have provided a magazine frame 10 having a. plurality of spaced Vertically extending substantially parallel flanges 11 which define a plurality of bobbin compartments 12 to receive the butts of bobbins B. The magazine may be formed substantially as set forth in Patent No. 1,080,748 and it is to be understood that the bobbins are arranged in stacks to await transfer.

In carrying out my invention I provide the upper part of the magazine frame with an upwardly and inwardly curved support 13 having an upper curved surface 14 which is a continuation of the portions of the frame 10 lying between the flanges. partment is provided with a curved guide 15 which as shown in Fig. 2 may be formed of a piece of sheet metal havi a relatively long poltion thereof extending over and equally spaced from the surface 14 and having a comparatively short bent end 16 by means of which the guide may be secured to the support by screws 17. Each of the flanges 11 has secured thereto a plate 18 a portion of which overhangs one of the compartments 12 and forms a short outer wall for the same.

Each compartment has a weight W formed substantially as indicated in Fig. 3 and having a relatively heavy body 19 from the upper portion of which extends a hand hold 20 to afford means forlifting the weight. The lower surface of the weight is concave as indicated at 21 and has one side 22 extend- Each com- 7 ing lower than-the opposite side so that when resting on a bobbin the latter will be wedged over toward the flange opposite the lower edge 22. Each weight is provided with a guide lip 23 having a surface 2d of substantially the same curvature as the under side of guide 15. A finger25 projects to the right of each of the Weights as indicated in Fig. 2 to engage a portion of the butt of the bobbin so that some of the downward pressure of the weight will be borne by that portion of the. bobbin butt remote from the frame 10. V

Under normal conditions the bobbins and weights will assume a position similar to that indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 and as sue-- cessive transfers occur the weights and bobbins will descend, rotation of the bobbins on their centers being effectively prevented by the weights. When the supply of bobbins is depleted the attendant will raise the weights to the top of the compartments by means of the hand hold 20, displacement to the right as viewed in Fig. 2 being prevented by the plates 18. As the attendant continues to raise the weight the lip 23 will engage the guide 15 a small portion of which projects into the compartmentae shown in Fig. 1 and the weight will move along an upwardly; and inwardly curved path to some such a position as is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The curved surface 14; is so designed as always to be inclined relatively to a horizontal line. The attendant will then insert a fresh supply of full bobbins, this operation being as simple as is the case with ordinary magazines because of the fact that the tops of the compartments are free and unobstructed, the weight W being removed completely from the compartment and the guides 15 and plates 18 having their lower and upper ends, respectively, so placed as to permit free entry of the butts of the bobbins into the compartments. The attendant should of course replace the weights so that they will rest on the topmost bobbins but should this duty be neglected and the i weights be left in the dotted line position indicated in Fig. 2 the subsequent jarring of the loom as the latter continues to run will disturb the weights so that the same will gradually creep down the inclined surface 1st and will finally fall into the compartment and descend onto the bobbins.

From'the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means for guiding and retaining weights for weft replenishing mechanisms in such a Way as not to interfere with the introduction of bobbins into the bobbin compartment and at the same time have provided meansto prevent displacement of the weights and subsequent loss. It will fur ther be seen that the inclined supports for the weights tend naturally to return the weights to their normal bobbin restraining position due to the jarring of the loom should the operator neglect to place the weights after filling the compartments. Also itwill be seen that the fingers 25 engage the inner portions of the bobbin butts to hold the same properly in the compartments. 0 I

Having thus described my invention it will .be apparent that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in theart without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosedbutwhat I claim is:

1. In aweft replenishing mechanism for looms, a frame, flanges on the frame defining a bobbin compartment to receive the butts of bobbins, a weight vertically movable in the compartment and normally resting on the topmost bobbin to prevent rotation thereof, and means defining an inclined surface at the upper end of the compartmentand communicating with the latter, said weight being movable to and supportable by the in clined surface when thecompartmentis being furnished with a fresh supply of bobbins, the jar of the loom being depended upon to move the weight down the inclined surface should said weight be left on the inclined surface afterthe bobbins are inserted in the compartment.

2. In a weft replenishing mechanism for looms, a frame having a substantially vertical portion and. an inclined part, means formed by the frame defining a compartment for the butt-s of bobbins, and a weight movable in the compartment and normally reste ing .011 the topmost bobbin, said weight being movable on and supportable by the inclined part of the frame when the compartment is being furnished with a fresh supply of bobbins, said weight when in such position being out of the path of the bobbins and removed from the compartment, the jar of the loom being depended upon to move the weight down' the inclinedpart of the frame into the compartment should the weight be inadvertently left out of the compartment on the inclined part of the frame.

3. In aweft replenishing mechanism for looms, a frame, flanges for the frame defining bobbin compartments, a weight movable in the compartments, and an inclined weight support for the frame extending to one side of the compartment and having an inclined surface communicating with the lat- 4. In a weft replenishing loom, a frame, flanges for the frame forming a bobbin compartment, a weight movable in the compartment between the flanges, an inclined support near the upper end of the compartment having an inclined surface to communicate with the compartment and in position to support the weight, interengaging parts formed on the Weight and inclined support to hold the weight on the inclined surface, said weight when on the inclined surface being out of the path of the bobbins being inserted in the compartment, said weight creeping down the inclined surface and moving into the compartment due to the jarring of the loom While the loom is running should the wei ht be inadvertently left on the inclined sur ace.

5. In a weft replenishing mechanism for looms, a frame, flanges for the frame defining a bobbin compartment, a weight movable between and guided by the flanges and normally resting on the topmost bobbin in the compartment, a guide lip extending laterally from the weight, a support having an inclined surface communicating with the compartment, and a guide formed with the support to engage the guiding lip of the weight, said weight being supportable on the inclined surface with the lip thereof in engagement with the guide when the compartment is being furnished with a fresh supply of bobbins, the weight being movable down the inclined surface into the compartment by the jar of the loom when the latter is running and being guided in the compartment by the lip and guide.

6. In a weft replenishing mechanism for looms, a frame, flanges for the frame defining a bobbin compartment, a weight movable between and guided by the flanges and normally resting on the topmost bobbin in the compartment, a guide lip extending laterally from the weight, a support having an inclined surface communicating with the compartment, a guide formed with the support to engage the guiding lip of the weight, said weight being supportable on the inchned surface with the lip thereof in engagement with,

the uide when the compartment is being furnlshed with a fresh supply of bobbins, the weight being movable down the inclined surface into the compartment by the jar of the loom when the latter is running and being guided in the compartment by the lip and guide, and a guide plate formed for one of the flanges to engage a portion of the weight when the latter is in the compartment to restrain movement thereof in the direction of the length of the bobbins.

7. In a weft replenishing mechanism for looms, means defining a compartment for the butts of bobbins, a weight slidable in and guided by the compartment and normally resting on the topmost bobbin, and means presenting an inclined surface communicating with the bobbin compartment on which the weight may be supported when the compartmentis being furnished with a fresh su ply of bobbins, the jar of the loom when t e latter is running tending to cause the weight to creep down the inclined surface and into the compartment should the weight be inadvertently left on the inclined surface after the compartment has been supplied with bobbins.

8. In a weft replenishing mechanism having a frame with flanges defining a guideway for a stack of bobbins, a weight movable in the guideway to rest on the topmost bobbin, a finger pro ecting from the weight and extending toward and contacting with that end of the butt of the topmost bobbin which is remote from the frame and adjacent the yarn on the bobbin, and means formed on the guideway to limit movement of the weight toward the bobbin in a longitudinal direction and said fin or limiting movement of the bobbin away from the frame.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HARRISON N. ARTHUR. 

